This year, with the league improved from top to bottom, the Metro’s best offer real promise to better that success – if only they can figure out who the top two will be.

“I feel it's a five-team race and any one of these teams can win the league,” said Westview coach Bobby Fernandez. “Jesuit, Lincoln, Beaverton, Sunset and Westview all have amazing talent on their teams.”

“After watching the first two tournaments, there is no way of knowing who is going to win league this year,” said Southridge coach Pat Buckhalter. “I think five of the seven schools have already passed the 200-point mark at least once this year. There will eventually be a battle between the top five schools for the two spots. It will be fun.”

That said, some of the league’s coaches have a little more refined idea of who will end on top.

“I believe Jesuit or Lincoln will win the league,” said Aloha coach Vince Kirnak. “They have a lot of returning players and are very deep. All the girls on their teams can shoot very low.”

“Lincoln and Jesuit are always top contenders,” agreed Beaverton coach Donna Smoot. “They are both consistent with their play and have a lot of talent.”

ALOHA

Coach: Vince Kirnak

2013 Record: Sixth in Metro

All-Leaguers: None

Aloha’s girls did some good work a year ago, fielding a complete team and climbing out of the Metro League cellar to finish sixth in 2013. The Warriors would like to give that a run again in 2014, but know it won’t be easy in the ever-tough Metro.

“We have an older team, but most of our golfers are either first- or second-year golfers and don't have a ton of experience - thus we tend to make a lot of amateur mistakes,” said Aloha coach Vince Kirnak.

This year’s Warriors will be led by Tracy Brown, then will call on Rachel Lara, Madalyn Hinz, Courtney Hart and Mason McNamee.

“Tracy Brown is my best player, and while she's not a very long hitter, she is very consistent and rarely makes bad mistakes,” Kirnak said.

The team would love another state shot this season, but knows it will difficult in a league that includes talented foes Jesuit and Lincoln.

“We have the talent to do well (but) time will tell,” said Beaverton coach Donna Smoot. “The league is going to be very tough this year.”

Stoll is back for her junior year and will again be among the state’s best, and is joined by varsity returners Kylie Martens, Marlene Spalding and Madison Kirby. Freshman Anna Ricci will also play varsity.

Stoll “is stronger this year and is really hitting the ball solid,” Smoot said, adding that Martens “is one of the hardest workers. She has really worked on her short game and it will show as her scores get lower.”

JESUIT

Coach: Katy Williams

2013 Record: Third in Metro

All-Leaguers: Junior Helen Davis (1st)

The Jesuit girls golf team missed the state tournament in 2013 for the first time since 2001 and didn’t much like looking in from the outside.

But the Crusaders look very well armed to make sure they’re back “in” for 2014. The team brings back all-leaguer Helen Davis (the 2013 Metro runner-up), as well as Sarah Craven, Riley Pendergast and Michelle Tennant, and adds newcomers Amy Wagner and Bella Marconi.

“Helen brings a lot of experience and leadership. Her game has been steady over the past few weeks,” Jesuit coach Katy Williams said, adding that Craven “has improved her consistency” while Pendergast has “been close to her personal best.”

Despite that, Jesuit is taking nothing for granted in the ever-challenging Metro League.

“There are five teams that have the ability to win a Metro match or finish in the top two,” Williams said. “Overall, everyone in the Metro has improved their skill and competitive ability.”

SOUTHRIDGE

Coach: Pat Buckhalter

2013 Record: Seventh in Metro

All-Leaguers: None

The Southridge girls golf team spent the 2013 season looking up at the rest of the Metro League, and while the Skyhawks aren’t ready to challenge for a league crown, there’s good reason to believe they’ll be better and good reason to hope they’ll play their way out of the cellar.

“We have a team of good athletes (but they’re) still pretty raw at the game of golf on the whole,” said Southridge coach Pat Buckhalter. “The girls want to keep improving and that is a great quality they share.”

Back with varsity experience from 2013 are Elizabeth Mann, Marissa King, Kyra Anbe, Krysta Hamilton and Terah Hamilton. New to the Skyhawks’ 2014 roster are Sydney Jacobs, Allie Nash and Ania Rager.

“Our top scorers right now are Elizabeth Mann, Marissa King, Kyra Anbe and Krysta and Terah Hamilton,” Buckhalter said.

SUNSET

Coach: Brent Buell

2013 Record: Fifth in Metro

All-Leaguers: Sophomore Ellen Secor (1st)

The 2013 Sunset Apollos featured one of the Metro League’s best players in Ellen Secor, but were not a factor in the team race. They’d like to remedy that in 2014.

“We are still a very young team … but four of the five golfers are returners from last year,” said Sunset coach Brent Buell. “We hope that the experience from last year helps us this season.”

Secor was a first-team all-leaguer as a freshman and should be among the Metro’s best again.

“Secor is our team leader and most experienced player,” Buell said. “Her dedication to the game and her drive to get better have really paid off.”

The team also includes freshman Antara Vidyarthi and returners Lauren Kim, Miranda Bass and Emily Kim.

“We're very excited about (Vidyarthi’s) potential. She has a lot of natural ability and couples that with a love for the game,” Buell said, adding that “As a team, our key is to clean up our short game and minimize our strokes around the green.”

WESTVIEW

Coach: Bobby Fernandez

2013 Record: Fourth in Metro

All-Leaguers: Senior Jennifer Ko (1st)

Like Sunset, Westview features one of the Metro League’s best players (2013 first-teamer Jennifer Ko) and a real desire to challenge the league’s best teams after finishing fourth last season.

“I feel we have a strong team that is consistent,” said Westview coach Bobby Fernandez. “They believe in themselves and work hard to try and achieve their goal of making state.”

Ko, a two-time individual state qualifier, is the team’s leader, but will get plenty of help from Rika Nakajima, Vivian Kim, Megumi Rees and Alicia Johnson.

“I look forward to seeing her there again at the end of the season,” Fernandez said.

Nakajima and Kim are both off to strong starts in 2014, while varsity newcomers

Rees and Johnson “both show great potential and should be a very strong additions to our team,” Fernandez said.